National Republican., 1887-09-12
The Issues in virginia.

The Mder-AppCdl Of Petersburg, Va, q
paper that while Democratic still has some
sense and decency says;
We do not take much stock in clap-trap.
Wolf wolf wolf! is on Old cry that alarms
nobody, and II anybody believes that TO shout
"Mahonel MGhone!" or "Nigger! Nigger!" go
ing to defeat the Republicans in Virginia this
wear he will be badly mistaken. These bugi.
boos have lost their terror 1t they ever had
the effect intended by the alarmists.
The Democratic leaders and papers are
erdeavoring to make ali issue in Virginia
of Malone, whom they denOunce as Re-
publican boss and a man to be hated aud
feared by the people Of the state. They are
doing this under the orders Of that most
imperious Democratic boss, Barbour. I'm
der his orders "Nfahone Malone !n and
"Nigger Niger ~ will be shouted In all
tones OF the gamut from the shrill treble
of the little county paper and crossroads
politician to the hoarse bass Of the imperial
organs, the state, Dispatch, aud wing, aud
the resonant tones of the great orators,
home uud imported. By doing this Boss
Barbour hopes to secure majority of the
legislature and seat for himself In the
United States Senate.
The time has passed when the people OF
Virginia could be deceived by such trans
parent tricks as the Roanoke platform and
the cry Of "Mahonen and "Nigger." Neither
"Boss Barbour,n nor "Boss Mahone," nor
the "nigger party" are issues In this cam
paign in Virginia, nor can they be made so
The people OF Virginia have some plain,
simple propositions before them. The
Democrats in state matters have had con-
troll for some years. They have increased
state expenditures over what they were
unner ilepuoican rule over 100000 per
year. They have ex peude1 the school funds
improi erly and crippled the public schools,
They have put the state dobt into the worst
condition possible, and made the states
crcGit 30 bad that the capital city cannot
borrow money at any rate Of interest, and
have shown themselves utterly incompe.
tent to manage the affairs OF the state for
the hest interests of the people.
In national affairs Virginia Democrats
were prominent III helping to defeat the
repeal Of the tax on tobacco, which would
have relieved Virginia farmers from ter.
ritlG load. They were prominent In help.
ing 10 defeat the repeal OF the tax on dlstil-
lation Of fruit, both Of which measures they
now pretend to favor, In the hope Of secur-
ing votes. The Virginia Democrats were
prominent in helping 10 defeat the Blair
educational bill, which In eight years
would give Virginia $9000,000 to aid the
impoverished state In educating its ignor-
ant children. They all favor a change OF
the tariff leading to free trade, which would
strike down the new industries which are
bringing millions of dollars into the state
providing profitable labor for the idle and
home markets for every product of the
farm, from dozen eggs to blooded
horse.
All these things which the Democrats
have opposed the Republicans favor, ant
these are the issues In the present canvass
because there is United States senator t
elect, who will be Republican or Demo
crat and will oppose these measures if {
Democrat and favor them II Republican
So far as the Republicans of the state ar
concerned some OF them seem to think tina
"Mahonc" is the issue. He Is not. The issu
is what we have stated as between the Re
publicans and the Democrats. But for tn
Republicans much more is involved-th
possible control Of the United States Sen
ate the certain control Of the state; tn
honor of breaking the solid Democratic
south high place IN the councils of til,
Republican party. All these are involved
for the Republicans.